THE government is promising to get tough on any thugs who attack 999 workers.

The Manchester Evening News is campaigning for tougher laws to protect firemen, paramedics and police from yobs who ambush them when on duty.

According to government figures, there were 337 attacks on firefighters in Greater Manchester in the past year, a big increase from the 175 recorded in 2001 - and the highest figure in England.

Now the Home Office is promising new measures to target the yobs.

Priority

In a joint statement, the Home Officer Ministers Hazel Blears, the MP for Salford, and Paul Goggins, the MP for Wythenshawe and Sale East, say that people in the emergency services deserve respect and protection.

The two ministers said: "We abhor attacks and the government is determined to crack down on those who commit them. Protecting workers who serve the public from abuse is a priority for the government and we want to ensure that everyone gets the message that attacks like this will not be tolerated."

Ms Blears said the government would publish a report called the Respect Action Plan, which will give details of measures to target such behaviour.

'Respect'

She said: "Respect is two-way. In order to get respect, you must also give respect.

"And showing respect to emergency workers is essential for them to carry out their important task of protecting the community."

Labour MP Alan Williams has been campaigning for new laws to extend the protection for 999 workers which has recently come into force in Scotland. His private Bill seeks to make it a specific offence to assault, obstruct or hinder emergency workers.

The Fire Brigade's Union recently published research suggesting that attacks on British fire crews could be as high as 120 a week, with firemen targeted with bricks, bottles and missiles while they fight fires.

Shot

One fire crew even had a scaffolding pole thrown through the windscreen of an engine, while others have been shot at, spat at and had equipment stolen.

In Bolton earlier this year, 20 youths attacked fire crews with bricks and the fire engine had to be removed from service. In March two Salford firefighters were taken to hospital after being hit with bricks while tackling a fire.

Greater Manchester fire chief Barry Dixon has said that if the attacks are allowed to continue, he fears one of his men will be seriously injured or killed.